A Spanakopita made with Swiss chard from the garden is in the oven ... that's supper seen to ... we'll have a spiralised courgette salad with it ... have to do something with the courgettes and the freezer is almost full

Think it probably just needs a new battery, but apparently Amazon won't supply them, so all the repair shops have stopped doing themIt hasn't been knocked about, it lives on a tablet stand (like a music stand) next to the sofa, and is seldom removed from it.

Been annoyed I bought a Fire and not an iPad since I stopped working, when I bought I, it was mainly for use as an e-reader and occasional email and stuff, but now I don't sit on a PC all day I use it more online and it is so s-l-o-w.. No SIM of course either, which is increasingly a nuisance

liketocook wrote:Good afternoon everyone, I've just had some wonderful news, my son and his lovely Greek gf got engaged in the sunshine on a Greek Island with my Gran's engagement ring. I am so happy I could burst

What lovely news LTC, Congratulations to you all. So nice when family jewellery is used, it makes the departed feel part if the occasion.

Thanks everyone, Yes I'm really pleased he opted to use my Gran's ring. She's really not a blingy girl and it's very simple so ideal. They were sharing hold luggage so it went smuggled in the toe of one of his smelly trainers I'm not sure when or where they will actually wed, I think they might just sneak off somewhere when they are ready but who knows!

Sue, what a pain re the Kindle. I've had mine since before tablets were very commonplace but only use it if I go away. I would love a tablet but don't really need one.

I have had to turn the fan off and close a couple of windows this afternoon . We have had a few big splodges of rain and I saw someone walking past wearing a COAT! DS came round this afternoon which was nice and gave me a bit of a boost. I had sausage and pasta ready meal for supper. By far the richest food I've eaten for a week and not something I want to eat regularly.

What a full day we have had ! Noticed this morning that the F/F that we inherited from our predecessors was making some funny clicking noises, on checking the stuff inside the freezer it was not frozen solid. Spent time looking for a 2nd hand replacement and found one not too far away in Swindon. A new one could not be delivered until Monday. Builder turned up at 10 for a chat about Phase II he will quote us shortly.

Kitchen planner came at 11.30 and we left to collect F/F at 2pm, collected some essentials on the way home and found the builder that sacked us, delivering the plans I had asked him to return. He was pleasant and we got the impression that he wanted to do as much as he could for us before departing out project. Unloaded the new 2nd hand F/F and left it to stand for a couple of hours. 2nd builder turned up and we went through the same procedure as the first one. When he had gone we decanted everything from the old F/F into the new 2nd hand one and had supper and then crashed out - shattered !

Mr. Z.has an 8am start tomorrow, so up at 6.45...... back on the hamster wheel !!

Another science fact I didn’t know about (from the BBC again). I’m sure it was worded in a simpler way this morning, but I was dashing out then. It’s referring to global warming and ice around the North Pole melting.

We’re obviously doomed . But fascinating reading.

"When you melt the Arctic, you're changing the way that the whole Earth works," she says. “You're changing ice that reflects heat back into space into dark seawater that absorbs incoming solar radiation."So it's a vicious circle - the less ice there is to reflect heat away from the Earth, the more global warming accelerates.

Good Morning Wild Ones, we went down to the solicitors yesterday and duly signed our sheet of A4. We spent most of the time chatting to Geraldine, the legal secretary about the price of rental property.

Good morning wild ones. We too have showers forecast today. I must say it doesn't look much like it at the moment Today is food shopping, I have two carrots left in the veg draw, so it needs replenishing.

Morning all! No rain but very dull here and so chilly I have not opened the window yet. Had I felt better I would have been leading a trip out today to some gardens idyllic in the sunshine. Rather a shame they won't get a gorgeous day, the forecast looks awful for later.

On the agenda today and tomorrow is more laundering of bedding, a little food shopping and some paperwork. This morning I was woken by a lot of coughing and then a nose bleed which was rather unwelcome but a reminder that it is still right to be resting for most of the day and not being lazy. I think I might call the doctor tomorrow to see if they will sign me off for some of next week. It's not as though I often ask for anything like that.

You do have a very nasty bug, EM. don't overdo itWe are on a Yellow Heat Alert here, the temperature on the car thermometer was 32 C at 9 30, the car is parked in the shade. I shall be staying indoors all day.

Slightly disrupted life at the moment. There’s a film crew doing things in the house two doors up. Huge numbers of people and vehicles for what we are told are two exterior 10 second bits! They seem to spend most of their time sitting on the tailgate of the props lorry. They have just left us room between the fence and their portaloo for the car to get down the track to the road. I don’t know what the continuity will be like. It was sunny yesterday and it’s dull and drizzly at the moment. And the green bin dustcart came down the road at an inopportune time. I wonder if they have been told that the brown bin lorry will be along in half an hour!!

Good morning everyone, Thanks for all the good wishes yesterday, even though I knew of his intentions I still felt very happy and emotional when they phoned. Apparently her parents are delighted too! She loves my Gran's ring and it fits perfectly . My grandparents got engaged in 1934 so there are a lot of life experiences and memories attached to it. The sun is shining and I was up and organised as my Dad was due for lunch. Unfortunately he's had an attack of his tummy troubles so has had to postpone until next week so I'll be eating Salad Nicoise for a couple of days as I had it semi prepped and had just opened a tin of tuna when he called. Thankfully he sees a specialist at the end of the month re possible surgery to help the problem as it's really impacting on his life and he is still losing weight quite rapidly.I'm expecting delivery today or tomorrow of 120 pansy plugs, I do hope it's today so I can sit in the sunshine to get them into the small pots I filled yesterday. Once potted they'll take over my conservatory table for a few weeks until they are big enough to harden off.

The sun is out no sign of rain, looks like I will have to give the plants a hose down later. Shopping is done and put away, beasts walked and lunch had. Now I will go and try out my new ironing board. The old one sort of disintegrated, it was 44 years old so it didn't owe me anything. It probably cost me around a fiver new. The now one on the other hand was £56.95

Well we seem to be back to this week's normal. At the moment we have thunder, lightning and heavy rain but so far the power is holding on in there.Luara, our hairdresser is due soon but as she is a typical Provencal, she won't venture out.

I have a request for soupe au pistou tonight so have more or less prepped the ingredients because GS wants to be shown how to make it. At least it doesn't need an oven.

Cooking for those you care about is the most profound expression of love - Anne-Sophie Pic

We have had about three hours solid rain! I debated kitting myself out in waterproofs for a walk but tested the water first by wandering a short distance to post an important letter and the rain subsided. So I took a risk, had an hours walk, just as I got home the heavens opened! The nicest thing was watching the local pigeons bathing in puddles on the flat shed rooftop.

Now, what I predicted would happen with nuisance neighbour, and what i told the council would happen, has happened. Now that his tent dwelling friends have been given their marching orders, up goes his music volume. Like a child throwing a tantrum! Eight hours yesterday. Already two hours today. I actually wouldn't put him past him putting his music on repeat and going out for the day. It's the same 'pop, pop, pop, pop' fast bass over and over. Trying not to let it get to me but it is pretty torturous. Only one person / department can help me on this, so I'd better crack on with that!

i knew someone who's house was used in a tv programme, a while back. the film company took lots of photos beforehand so that they could put all the furniture etc back as they found it. the said person asked if they could leave it as they had set it up and not put it back to the (rather awful) chaotic mess in which the family usually lived. it looked ok for a short while...

they had to be away from the house from eight until eight and received nearly a grand for their troubles.

it was barely recognisable in the tv program (of a series which we regularly watched).

Next door is a loft apartment (converted Victorian school) that in the past was used for fashion shoots. I wondered what was going on but one of the models used to come and sit outside and talk to my cats

Had a few days of dire hospital visits OH was diagnosed with a bleed on his brain! referred by blues and two to Salford Royal where the staff were fantastic discharged home to return two weeks later for a further scan, OMG what a palaver it took 7 hours to get a further appointment due to a 'clerical' error aaaargh!!! and now they have decided to hand back to Cardio thoracic team !!!!

Apparently we are rather negative towards the NHS ! I served 30 years in the system and I am appalled by the lack of care - rant over

Anyway how are you all? We are struggling with wifi, don't know why but OH is on the case

I hope that your OH gets some better care. Interestingly my best friends brother also had a very negative experience of Salford Royal neurology dept. She is a director of nursing in an acute trust ( and used to work there at a senior level) and I believe that she raised the issues they faced at board level. As she said, if she found it difficult to navigate the system when she works in it and understands the process, what chance does the avaerage patient have?

A lot of my friends work there, I think it’s safe to say that care is very patchy. My husband was an inpatient for two weeks and he got excellent care, but not before my friend intervened. After we had both visited him one night we left together, the staff inthe ward started interrogating him as to how he knew us, he had to admit the he was married to me.

We found clinical care excellent but right hand didn’t seem to know that there even was a left hand. Getting him discharged and home was an uphill struggle to coordinate.

Morning all, Late 11am start at work for Mr. Z. - means he may not be home until very late tonight.... He has asked for a full monty before leaving so a Polish saus. egg, m'room and tomato with toast is on the cards.

Building inspector is due to us today, questions about the footings where the existing garage is and what steps need to be taken so we can build (safely). Also my new glass laminated window and the rules on how I can display it next to the new front door position.

Then I need to start collating stuff for 3 weeks today. We are off to Ischia! Anyone heard of it or been there? Italy - it's an island in the bay of Naples.

Good morning wild ones. I have just been reading about the floods in the South of France what a mess. London too had a deluge yesterday, I said we would pay at some point for the continuous sunshine and good weather. No rain here yet, but it's forecast today.

Good morning all Rain overnight and blue skies now ... the storms/floods in France look horrendous. Am I the only person who won’t miss House of Fraser? Inflated prices and appalling customer service had been my consistent experience. It’s one of the big stores in Norwich city centre but I rarely bother to look in there and buy even more rarely.

I haven’t bought anything at House of Fraser for years, the Manchester store, Kendal’s, has allusions of grandeur. If you can find anyone to actually deign to serve you you are doing well, and whilst it likes to think itself fashionable parts of it are distinctly underwhelming.

Having said that my late father and mother in law always shopped there, but this is 30 plus years ago. My FIL used to go into the men’s department and ask what have you got for short and stout? Invariably they had plenty of choice for a short and stout pensioner.........maybe that’s why they have failed?

Mogs . Seems we all have tales of both excellent and rubbish service from the NHS. It is a pity that the excellent cannot be rolled out as the norm when it often is more down to attention to detail than anything huge and expensive.

Still no rain here but it's a bit grey this morning. I am washing my mattress protector and hoping I can get it nice and dry outside. Most things can end up in the dryer if really necessary but the last one I put in there melted so won't be doing that!

Started feeling considerably better yesterday afternoon. I don't think I really have good reason to ask for a sick note for Monday at the moment. Last of the antibiotics today, I think they can make one feel a bit weird anyway. Agenda for today is to pop to SW but not stay (lost half a stone last week but have put it on again), some food shopping as DD is coming tomorrow and getting the bedroom ready for her. My spare room doubles as an office so I put guests in my room and decamp. It's easier than tidying up the spare room in the long run .

House of Fraser opened here in the '80s and was quite nice. As with many places, keeping shops in the town centre is an uphill struggle and a few years ago they changed it to an outlet store which meant it has merchandise they can't sell elsewhere. They won't be missed but it will leave yet another gaping hole in a town centre where a new pound shop was opened with great ceremony by the mayor last week.

I cannot remember the last time i had such a good sleep as last night. A combination of five hours on the phone to a chatterbox (I can talk too!) friend (thank goodness for unlimited phone call contracts!). She's helping me with CV and job applications, bless her, plus we do have a giggle. So that meant my dinner was late and I fell asleep easily. The drop in temperature also helped loads!

My hair needs a good colouring this morning then off to the job centre I go. And I've had a very nice looking pizza waving at me from the freezer for a week so that could be a perfect Friday meal to end a bit of a frustrating week!

After pretty much a whole day of heavy rain yesterday, we are left with an overcast sky and what looks like a threat of more rain, so I'd better take my brolly!

It started to pour just after I last posted and of course the internet went off and the power supply began to look as it was sending morse signal

We had 4 hours of torrential rain which managed to get into my dressing room because, unbeknown to us, Monday's lightning had struck the guttering at the back of the house so I have a swimming pool in the dressing room - different I suppose. We have a matching one in the cellar fortunately not as deep as it used to get before the storm drains were installed. The rain was so hard though that there were fountain coming out of all the inspection covers.

However, looking at what happened elswhere in the region we got off very lightly. If you want to camp in the South of France in August then select a site well away from any water course - even if it has no water in it at the time.

Mogs I do hope your OH continues to improve and that the NHS in your area gets themselves sorted. Looking at it from outside it seems to me that once you get directed to the right place the people at the sharp end (no pun intended) do a good job. It seems to be administration and management which fall down.

Cooking for those you care about is the most profound expression of love - Anne-Sophie Pic

Good morning everyone, Mogs hope your OH improves Rats - sounds as though you got off lightly compared to some parts but still a lot to deal with EM - glad you are feeling better, hopefully the antibiotics have done the trick.Pansies arrived yesterday but I didn't get them potted up as my balance flung a wobbler. Thankfully a night's sleep and a gentle start to the day seem to have settled it so they'll be todays challenge .My younger son is home tonight for the weekend and I'm making the River Cottage "courgette, rice & filo" pie for dinner to use up some of the excess courgettes.

Back from Mah Jong in Pissouri, there were enough players to make up four tables. The Artemis have told us that they cannot accommodate us for the next two weeks as it is the peak Cypriot holiday weeks so they will be busy. Personally I think that it was because there were four tables instead of the two that you might expect at this time of year. Not that we take up too space, we bring our own kit and put things back as we found it.

Rats I heard about the floods in the south of France, I knew that it was not near you but did wonder about yet more storms.

Oh dear Rats, glad you are all safe but what a nuisance about the unwelcome indoor pool.

The courgette pie sounds interesting ltc! Enjoy the pansy potting.

Well, nothing has gone to plan yet here. I went to SW and there were so few people there I felt obliged to stay. I was 4.5lbs lighter than 2 weeks ago which was a bonus! Whilst I was there, rain set in for the day so I read the mattress protector instructions and it says it can go in the dryer on a cool setting (it's a better quality one than the previous one) so that's where it is and seems to be ok. Think I need a nap before going shopping .

liketocook wrote:I'm making the River Cottage "courgette, rice & filo" pie for dinner to use up some of the excess courgettes

That looks a good recipe, I may give it a try. What type of container do you use?

moira

Moira - I use a square ceramic roaster that's 23cm x 23cm. I'm using brown rice as that's what I have in which I'll par cook first. You can use fully cooked rice in which case squeeze excess water out of the courgettes. I make it with feta cheese.